Actual courage with no upfront support (4)

I believe the answer is:

very

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'actual' is the definition.
(synonyms)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for very that I've seen before include "type of light" , "Exactly, really" , "Extremely, in a high degree" , "Actual; in a high degree" , "Truly" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sunday Times.

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